Adam Creighton, Computer and Video Gaming: Business shake-ups; OrigenXbox360 revealed (tomorrow); Co-op is the new hotness

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Adam Creighton, Computer and Video Gaming (Subscribe)

Monday, September 26, 2005

Business shake-ups; OrigenXbox360 revealed (tomorrow); Co-op is the new hotness

Sony re-orgs
Microsoft re-orgs
More WarDevil videos
Gearbox licenses Unreal Engine 3
Stubbs the Zombie is going to have Co-op!
Origen ARG reveal (tomorrow)
New Nintendo Gameboys (x2)
Why I don't need a PC
Adam's playing ...

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NEWS:
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1. Sony re-orgs

Sony is restructuring in a big way. The new structure will have five business groups, two units, one division, and two development groups, cut 10,000 jobs, and close 11 plants by 2008.

"The buck stops here authority (for "key areas") goes to president and electronics CEO Ryoji Chubachi.

10,000 jobs is ~7% of Sony's worldwide workforce.

Business Groups: Television, video, digital imaging, audio, "B & P" (Broadcast & professional products)
Business Units: Core Component Business Unit (including Memory Stick) and Semiconductor Business Unit (including the PS3 Cell processor)
Corporate Division: PCs and Laptops
Development Groups: Technology Development Group and Display Device Development Group (including R&D for self-luminous flat-panel OLED (organic light-emitting diode) displays).

This is on top of Sony's 3-year, 20,000 job cut that's part of its "Transformation 60" effort that tags out next May.

2. Microsoft re-orgs

So, Microsoft just re-orged into 3 new divisions, each with its own president:

The Microsoft Platform Products & Services Division (Kevin Johnson and Jim Allchin as co-presidents)
Microsoft Business Division (Jeff Raikes)
Microsoft Entertainment & Devices Division (Xbox boss Robbie Bach)

The Microsoft Entertainment & Devices Division combines the Home and Entertainment Division with the current Mobile and Embedded Devices Division.

This is an interesting shakeup, and could be read in a variety of ways -- not the least of which is Microsoft positioning itself to break into three separate companies. The new Microsoft Entertainment & Devices Division could position Microsoft for additional channel distribution -- like boutique retail stores (like what Apple has been successful with, and Gateway ... not so much ...

3. More WarDevil videos

OK, I'm going to keep mentioned this game. Check out new movies for the game WarDevil, Including the full-length Tokyo Game Show 2005 video, and a "reveal" trailer the Digi-Guys Studio are using to show these are game-engine character and level renders. Amazing stuff...

4. Gearbox licenses Unreal Engine 3

Gearbox Software, L.L.C., who's used Epic Games's Unreal Engine for WWII shooters Brothers In Arms Road to Hill 30, and sequel, Brothers In Arms Earned in Blood (but -- *ahem* -- have refused to VO audition me for either), announced they're licensing the Unreal Engine 3 for "original, unannounced next generation Gearbox titles" and for Brothers in Arms 3 (which Sony announced at the Tokyo Game Show 2005).

Now if they'll just audition me ...

5. Stubbs the Zombie is going to have Co-op!

I really like co-op. I've said Online Co-op is the new Hotness(tm), but I'll even take offline co-op -- there's just something about playing through a good game with a buddy that makes it all that much more enjoyable ("good" being the operative word).

And now, Stubbs the Zombie, that upcoming quirky weird zombie game from Alexander Seropian (Halo's daddy) over at Wideload Games (and published by Austin company Aspyr Media, Inc.).

Can't wait to tag team the "Unholy Flatulence" zombie power ...

And, for the record, I've been hyping Stubbs since before I know what it was (and here, revealed here, music mumblings here, and even gave a nod to The Animation Farm folks for their recent cinematic).

Oh, and Stubbs arguably lead the charge for this whole slew of current and next-gen zombie-themed games. I think zombies are the new WWII (which was the new Quake, which was the new Doom, which was the new Wolfenstein, which was the new WWII (and it had zombies; hmm ...).

6. Origen ARG reveal (tomorrow)

www.origenxbox360.com is counting down to tomorrow -- but what's the big reveal? Halo 3? Halo 2.5 (give me the rest of my damn game!)? A new RPG?

Maybe it's an announcement about the New York Times Square space (which could be like the Tokyo Xbox 360 "store").

7. New Nintendo Gameboys (x2)

So, the new Gameboy Micro should be showing up at retailers this week or next (and is setting sales records in Japan. In addition, though I can't find anything from Nintendo about it, there's a new Gameboy SP whose product packaging says, "Now with a BRIGHTER backlit screen".

8. Why I don't need a PC
I have 6 games I wanted to play, and thought they were going to be PC-only. Now, all of them have been announced or will soon be announced as coming to Xbox or Xbox 360 (and PS3):

Half-Life 2 (Xbox)
Prey (Xbox 360)
F.E.A.R. (Xbox 360)
Huxley (Xbox 360)
Hellgate (Xbox 360)
Quake 4 (Xbox 360 launch title)

Why do I need a PC again, and have to tweak my (or get a new) graphics card (or PC) when the games are launched?

9. Adam's playing ...

Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects. Slick, stylized, appropriately dark fighter with a story mode that doesn't totally suck. Not sure I'm stoked about EA's Universal Control Set, but I'm adjusting.

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SOURCES: Gamespot.com, joystiq.com, kotaku.com, Xbox.com, IGN, GameInformer, Official XBox Magazine, CNN, gamesindustry.biz, and others.

Adam Creighton, Computer and Video Gaming (Subscribe)

Monday, September 26, 2005

Business shake-ups; OrigenXbox360 revealed (tomorrow); Co-op is the new hotness

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